Category: MISC

Tools explained ~ Thursday 13 +2 bonus

I received these in an email and thought I’d offer them up in honor of almost being done with this house. Many of these truly apply to hubby and this house! Especially the last one!

  1. DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.
  2. WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, ‘Oh sh –‘
  3. SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
  4. PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.
  5. BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
  6. HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.
  7. VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
  8. TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.
  9. BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.
  10. PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.
  11. STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.
  12. PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.
  13. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.
  14. UTILITY KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.
  15. Son of a b*tch TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling ‘Son of a b*tch’ at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

Fall apple pie and caramel chocolate cupcake recipes for Save Room for Dessert

Are you ready for Fall? Fresh, crisp air, Fall festivals, apples, the smell of cinnamon and caramel, Halloween, Thanksgiving, cheering our favorite sports teams, these are all in store for us as the weather cools.

I hope you are all visiting each other, because you’ve been cooking up some great desserts, and that’s how we all get to know each other. You all had great recipes as usual, and two of them just screamed

“Give me an F!”
“Give me an A!”
“Give me an L!”
“Give me an L!”

Did you notice Monster Mama’s Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes and Liz’ Golden Apple Pie?

Thank you for participating in Save Room for Dessert Wednesday at The Krazy Kitchen.


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MENU PLANNING

~ MENU PLANNING ~

There is more to menu planning than just deciding what to make for dinner, at least for the average family. We’re a military family used to getting paid once a month and trying to make it last. So for me, menu planning also encompasses recipe scouring, coupon clipping (we love to read the Sunday papers and have coffee. One of the things I always go for first is the coupons to see what I can save for us – hubby always laughs when I get excited at a large coupon for something already on the grocery list – LOL), sale ad reading and logical common sense planning. I do participate in Menu Plan Monday, but I actually prepare my menu for the entire month all at once and then just break it up for posting.

I start the last week of the previous month with checking out what I already have in the freezer inventory and then the ads for my local markets for the upcoming week. I see what meats will be going on sale and then scour my recipe file for recipes to match. One of the biggest things I do to help not only with cost of ingredients, but also waste is to make sure to back up recipes to each other that use similar ingredients that I can buy in bulk. For example if a recipe calls for 1/2 an onion for Monday night’s recipe, I make sure Tuesday night’s recipe uses the other 1/2. I also know which meals we’ll probably have leftovers for so I plan to either freeze part of it for a future meal or plan a C.O.R.N. (clean out refrigerator night) within my plan if there is only going to be a little of this and that leftover. I write my list and then I match up the coupons for whatever staples (flour, sugar, eggs, butter, etc…) I need and then the luxuries if there is room within the budget. If there is a really good sale I buy in super bulk for the following month also. Now I know this sounds like a lot of work, but the whole process takes less than an hour and then it’s done for the month.

I have every scrap of a recipe I ever saved as well as many of my grandma’s too. It’s like an obsession with me. If a recipe sounds good in a magazine, I figure I can make it better based on my family’s likes and dislikes and tuck it away to try and manipulate at a later date. I recently decided it was time to clean-up this mess.

I found an old metal LP file box at a garage sale for 50 cents and dressed it up a bit so it didn’t look like a trash bin on my kitchen counter. (it was a beat up lime green with stickers everywhere). I have written 2 family reunion cook books in the past which helped some with eliminating the scraps of paper and I’m also in the midst of writing another Tastebook to use as family Christmas gifts that is helping to clean up this mess on a permanent basis. When you couple this with my blog recipe list at 3 Sides of Crazy and at OuR KrAzY KiTcHeN it makes it easy to reference. Truth be told I need 3 more of these boxes!

I have a perpetual list on the counter and every time we use something or run out of something, everyone is trained (finally) to list whatever they used or ran out of on an ongoing basis.

We keep a pretty concise calendar with everyone’s activities, appointments, meetings and such on it. I also write what we will be eating on each day so they’ll know what to expect. If for some reason we have to cancel a night I will rearrange the week so that the meal actually canceled is one using something from the freezer, not the fresh ingredients I’ve already purchased. When I do the shopping I buy in bulk to cut the cost and since I have my menu plan ahead of time, I break down the bulk package into meal appropriate sizes before freezing when I get home.

Appetizer Pizzas – Martha’s Monday Munchies

These little appetizer pizzas are so easy and they are a great addition to the party buffet.

Just cut French bread into slices, brush both sides of each slice with olive oil, place a thin slice of tomato on each, top with fresh mozzarella cheese, sprinkle with oregano, basil and minced garlic (optional), bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and just starting to brown.

I can’t wait to see what you have on your party buffet!

Please join me today over at The Motivation Station for some menu planning ideas and suggestions.

Meal Plans for Tamy


Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

I took an inventory of everything in the cupboard and freezer and am trying to plan meals around that. It’s not as easy as it sounds. What do I make with the bottle of tartar sauce and pickled beets?

 Breakfast Lunch Dinner Date
Monday

oatmeal

 out
 Taco Ring 9/28
Tuesday toast

 soup
 Beef Stroganoff 9/29
Wednesday cereal
 sandwiches
 Chicken Posole 9/30
Thursday yogurt
 chili
 Spicy Tuna Casserole 10/1
Friday toast
 sandwiches
 Spaghetti Bolegnese

10/2
Saturday Oven Poached Eggs Picnic
 Chicken Noodle Bake 10/3
Sunday Farmer’s Breakfast Crab Salad Peanut Butter Burgers 10/4

Come join me at The Motivation Station Tuesday for some kitchen organization.

Apple Chips & Grilled Cheese Apple Sandwiches ~ Martha’s Monday Munchies

I have apples coming out of my ears so to speak and needed to do something other than the traditional applesauce with them. These 2 recipes were a great way to use up those apples. When I was a kid my dad always ate his apple pie warm with a slice of cheddar which sparked my idea for this combo.

APPLE CHIPS
Large Apple
1 tablespoon butter
Coarse salt

  • Peel and core apple.
  • Slice into thin rings.
  • Melt butter in skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add apple rings.
  • Cook until soft and golden brown.
  • Drain on paper towels.
  • Sprinkle with coarse salt.
  • Cool & Eat.

APPLE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES
4 Oatnut Bread slices
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
honey mustard
2 tablespoons butter

  • Mix together the grated apple and cheddar cheese.
  • Spread the mustard over 2 of the bread slices.
  • Top with apple and cheese mixture. Add top slice of bread.
  • In a large skillet melt the butter.
  • Grill sandwiches to desired crispness.

Monday Munchies Is hosted by Martha at oUr KrAzY kItChEn. Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. Tuesdays at the Table is normally hosted by Andrea over at My Chihauhau Bites, but Andrea is taking a break and it is being hosted by Cole at All the Small Stuff for a while. Tempt my Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Lisa at Blessed with Grace. Foodie Friday is hosted by Michael Lee at Designs by Gollum, Friday Food is hosted by Nicole at Momtrends and Simple Saturday is hosted by girlichef at oUr KrAzY kItChEn.

Menu Plans


Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

I took an inventory of everything in the cupboard and freezer and am trying to plan meals around that. It’s not as easy as it sounds. LOL What do I make with the bottle of tartar sauce and pickled beets?

 Breakfast Lunch Dinner Date
Monday

oatmeal

 out
 Taco Ring 9/28
Tuesday toast

 soup
 Beef Stroganoff 9/29
Wednesday cereal
 sandwiches
 Chicken Posole 9/30
Thursday yogurt
 chili
 Spicy Tuna Casserole 10/1
Friday toast
 sandwiches
 Spaghetti Bolegnese

10/2
Saturday Oven Poached Eggs Picnic
 Chicken Noodle Bake 10/3
Sunday Farmer’s Breakfast Crab Salad Peanut Butter Burgers 10/4

Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberry Butter and Lingonberries ~ Simply Deicious Sunday

I don’t eat out much, especially for breakfast, but I do have a soft spot for IHOP’s Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries and Lingonberry butter. It took me awhile, but I have finally created a recipe so similar most people would not be able to tell the difference. These are thin pancakes. I make them about 8 inches round and then fold over once or twice.

SWEDISH PANCAKES with LINGONBERRY BUTTER and LINGONBERRIES
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 JUMBO eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1 cup 4% small curd cottage cheese

  • Preheat griddle* or crepe pan
  • Sift flour and salt together. Set aside.
  • Beat the eggs, milk, vanilla and maple extracts together.
  • Add the oil and beat again until sooth.
  • Add cottage cheese and beat until completely smooth.**
  • Gradually add the flour until a smooth consistency.
  • Pour 1/4-1/3 cup of batter onto griddle or crepe pan.
  • Cook a minute or two on each side.
  • Top with Lingonberry butter and Lingonberries.

NOTE:
*I used a third cup measure and my large griddle. This made 5 at a time.
**I used my mini food chopper to grind the cottage cheese and it worked great and much faster.

LINGONBERRY BUTTER
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup lingonberries

  • Beat butter until creamy.
  • Add berries and beat again until well blended.
  • Chill.
    3420344618_9e5495bf19_m

    • Summer – Where? Frost – Really? & Unacceptable Terms

    We’re still trying to get some outside painting done here while the house is for sale, but it has been such a strange summer, and I use the term summer loosely. I just checked weather.com to see what we’re in for the next few days and I found a frost advisory for tonight!! We were on frost advisories into very late June – no one’s gardens are growing much here… I guess there isn’t going to be a summer this year, at least not here. If I could just get the trim painted, I’d be happy, but it’s either raining, just rained, about to rain, windy, below 60 degrees or too humid – a little consistency would help.

    Now as for the house being for sale. I grew up around the real estate business, albeit on the west coast, but none the less there were certain things that were done to earn the high dollar commission that a home or piece of property brings. I even spent some time working for Realtors doing some house staging and creating home fliers. When we hired the agent to sell this house (and she was the best of the bunch we’d met) we presented her with a flyer that I had made listing all the new and upgraded amenities we were forced to do, room sizes, etc… All she had to do was apply a sticker with her name, phone number and the MLS number.

    We waited and after 2 months I had to call and call to ask for the fliers again to be added to the sign post as many people were driving around in circles looking at the house, but there was no information for them to know more about it. I truly believe fliers are a great tool. The agent had their office secretary redo the fliers and we found that it is their practice to include information that isn’t theirs to include. While the disclosure statement is available to anyone putting up earnest money, it should not be available to any Tom, Dick or Harry driving by as it includes enough information to create identity theft, you know like complete addresses, full names and signatures. We took them all apart and redid them to include only the necessary interest information.

    When I asked when the home would be caravaned or toured by local agents, I was told that is not their practice to do that here nor is Open Houses. We were told that if an agent was interested, they would contact us. It has been my experience that a first hand viewing of a property is mandatory to knowing about the property. Pictures and descriptions only go so far. I was told that taking the time to do a home tour conflicts with too many agents “other” jobs. So I ask you, am I expecting too much? They earn the same percentage commission here as in California or New York and everywhere in between, but do a whole lot less to earn it. And I say “THEY”, but I’m finding that while this is apparently the norm for this county and area, it is NOT the rule. We’re thinking we should change companies as there has been no activity generated by them on any level, but apparently we need them to agree they aren’t doing a good job before they will let us out of the 6 month contract so we can list with a company and agent willing to do the whole job.

    While they agreed to the cancellation (it took 2 weeks of perseverance to even get them to acknowledge us) and have picked up their sign, they have not removed the listing from the MLS and are not returning calls. I’m going to cal the board of Realtors on Monday as well as the MLS service, but so far no one seems interested in helping.

    ♥final blog signature. ♥

    BBQ Chicken wraps ~Simple Saturday

    Aren’t wraps one of the greatest, simplest inventions!? Pick your wrapper…pick your fillers…roll ’em all up and voile! Wraps are simple and satisfying and this wrap in particular is a favorite with the kiddos. Pick your favorite baked beans, your favorite BBQ sauce and you’re almost in business! This is a method, rather than a recipe…the one that I used this time. Amounts are subject to what you need and add or subtract ingredients to your tastes or what is in your cupboards. I actually really like this with some corn & shredded cheese thrown in too…but alas, we were out this time, so I went without.

    BBQ Chicken Wraps
    Chicken Breasts
    BBQ Sauce
    Baked Beans
    Whole Wheat Tortillas
    Romaine Lettuce
    Ranch dressing

    • Preheat your broiler and sauce up your chicken. Broil until cooked through. Set aside for at least 5 minutes, then cut into slices or chunks.
    • Heat your beans through in microwave or on stove top.
    • I wash one head of romaine and then cut it into shreds and toss with Ranch Dressing.
    • Heat your tortillas to make them pliable…either in the microwave or over an open flame (which is the way we like them).
    • Pile in the lettuce, beans and chicken and wrap!
    • Then enjoy and think of your next combo.Do you have a favorite wrap combination you’d like to share with us? Have you made something simple this week? Please share with us here on Simple Saturdays…leave a comment and leave a link with Mr. Linky!! See you next week….

    Friday Fill-Ins

    1. One week ago we solidified a life altering decision.

    2. Life was so much simpler when I was young.

    3. Mama told me there would be days like these.

    4. Between you and me the days like these sometimes suck.

    5. Take your time when making life changing decisions.

    6. Procrastination will pass if your keep a positive attitude!

    7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to pricing more things for tomorrows rummage sale, tomorrow my plans include rummage sale and harvest fest and Sunday, I want to RELAX!